Question

A client has sensorineural hearing loss. Which finding in the client's history will alert the nurse to the most likely cause of the sensorineural hearing loss?

1

Prolonged exposure to noise
2

Buildup of cerumen in the ear
3

Blockage of the ear from a foreign body
4

Perforation of the tympanic membrane

Answer 1

Sensorineural hearing loss is commonly caused by prolonged exposure to noise, such as loud music or construction noise, which can damage the auditory nerve or structures in the inner ear.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client with sensorineural hearing loss is most likely to have experienced prolonged exposure to noise as a primary cause, based on their history. Sensorineural hearing loss can occur as a result of environmental effects such as noise exposure (noise-induced hearing loss), aging, head or acoustic trauma, infections, certain medications, and more. Examples include regular exposure to loud music or noise from construction equipment, which are environmental factors that can lead to this type of hearing loss. This form of hearing loss involves a failure in the transmission of auditory nerve impulses to the brain, and while the nerves in the cochlea are not repairable, devices like cochlear implants that directly stimulate the auditory nerve are often used to compensate for the loss.